Armed officers at record high in West Yorkshire

There are more armed police officers in West Yorkshire than ever before as forces across the country gear up against the combined threat of terrorism and surging violent crime.

According to the latest figures from the Home Office, West Yorkshire Police had 180 armed officers as of the end of March, when the last national headcount was taken.

This was an increase from the previous year, when there were 165 officers, and an increase of 22% from ten years ago, when current records began.

However, while the numbers of armed officers in West Yorkshire’s police force may have swollen to a ten year high, the number of armed police operations actually being undertaken has fallen.

In the twelve months to March 2018, 896 armed police operations were conducted, down from 985 the previous year.

According to the National Police Chiefs’ Council, recruitment drives for armed counter-terrorism officers have been ongoing in the areas of England and Wales most at risk from terrorism.

However, many forces have struggled to recruit the numbers they need.

Despite the number of armed officers in England and Wales rising to 6,459 in 2018, more than a third of forces saw a reduction in the number of armed officers in their ranks over the last year.

Council lead for armed policing, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, said: “In 2016, £143 million was invested to increase the number of armed officers in the areas at the highest risk from terrorism.

“Chief constables continually assess the threat within their local force area and make decisions on the number of armed offices based on this assessment.

“There have been a number of challenges in recruiting sufficient numbers of Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers and recruitment and training is ongoing.

“In the meantime we have significantly enhanced our national capacity and capability and are ready to respond.”

Police forces across the country have also seen an “explosion” in violent crime over the past year, according to the Police Federation of England and Wales.